Alpine Atelier Glarus

CW01

The climber’s nest
Nathan Boder
FS21

Previous concept: The Ortstock elevator

The Ortstock elevator is the highest outdoor elevator in Europe and is located in the Swiss Alps of Glarus. It connects the sun terrace on the Brächalp plateau overlooking the Linth valley. Previous name: The Ortstock elevator
When arriving in Braunwald by funicular, hikers and visitors are invited to walk along the existing Zwerg-Bartli-Erlebnisweg. After passing through the Hüttenberg and its ski lifts, the walk continues to the Müllerberg. Only 500 m remain to reach the famous Tiidis Hüsli, which is located at the foot of this daring construction. As if suspended from the rocky wall, this wooden structure will take you 161 m up in a few minutes. At the top, above the Brächerbach waterfall at an altitude of 1600m, the panorama is breathtaking.

This vertical transport offers a unique attraction to this mythical tourist region. But that's not all! It provides easy access to the Bergetenseeli, reactivates the Ober Stafel area, and creates a new mountain trail itinerary which also takes you to the famous Ortstockhaus restaurant.


New concept: The climber’s nest

Creating this elevator is the raw expression of an intention. To work in the verticality of an exceptional place. At the same time, it is intended to create a connection with the village and the upper part of Brächalp. This 160m high rocky cliff leaves no one indifferent, but only one category of people can really make it their own: climbers.

The project presented here is reoriented into a structure or a set of structures arranged vertically offering accommodation for these sportspeople. These wooden constructions will be connected to each other, to the village and to the upper part by installations similar to those used in via-ferrata. The location is at the center of the various climbing routes in the region, halfway between the Ortstock and the Eggstock.

These wooden structures, with access restricted to people with safety equipment, will offer a few rooms for small groups and couples. There will also be common areas including a small dining room with a kitchen and a lounge area to relax after an intensive day. There will of course be sanitary facilities. Catering will not be provided, as the Ortstock restaurant is only 700m away from the project.

Images : On the left, to give a better idea of the landscape, a digital model of the Brächerbach cut in the Brächalp plateau. 
On the right, to give a possible orientation of the concept, an image of a hanging hotel near Cusco in Peru.